Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Airbnb renter wanted for questioning in man’s death

Wesley Nicholas rented his apartment to a man Atlanta police want to question about an Aug. 4 fatal shooting. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
Wesley Nicholas rented his apartment to a man Atlanta police want to question about an Aug. 4 fatal shooting. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
By Lauren Foreman
Aug 18, 2016

Atlanta police want to speak to a former Airbnb customer about a fatal shooting that occurred directly across from the apartment he rented.

Wesley Nicholas rented his unit to Eric Johnson for one week using the online service Airbnb, according to Channel 2 Action News.

About 1:05 a.m. Aug. 4, Deondre Dickerson was found in the 100 block of Cityline Avenue — directly across from Nicholas’ unit at the 251 North complex — with a gunshot wound to the upper back, Atlanta police spokesman Donald Hannah said.

Dickerson was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead about 20 minutes after he was found.

That same day, Nicholas returned home and found his apartment ransacked. Johnson was nowhere to be found.

“We’re looking to speak to Airbnb renter Mr. Eric Johnson about this murder, investigating if there’s a connection,” police Sgt. Warren Pickard told Channel 2.

Airbnb spokesman Nick Shapiro said the company is working with police on the matter.

“We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior and have removed Mr. Johnson from our platform,” he said in a statement.

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